Horse-collar.



E. MATHIS.

HORSE COLLAR.

APPLICATION FILED O0T.23, 1912.

1 74,887, Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

ELLIS MA'lI-IIS, OF FARMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

HORSE-COLLAR.

Specification of Letterslatent.

Application filed October 23, 1912.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

Serial No. 727,202.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELLIS MA'rHIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Farmington, in the county of Fulton and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in HorseCollars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to horse collars.

My invention particularly relates to improvements in the construction of combined horse collars and hames.

The object of my invention is to promote the more extended application, a wider and more perfect distribution of the traction force; to increase the area of impact between the shoulder of the draft horse and the col lar;'to present a yielding surface at points where, in action, a too severe impact will cause abrasion or soreness; to permit of shaping for exact conformity to different horses; to permit independent movement of independent sections forming the collar, whereby the sections will follow the movements of the shoulders and will lie substan-- tially continually in contact relation with the shoulder while the horse is in action.

My invention also includes means of con nection at the top of the collar to shorten or lengthen the same for application to horses of different size.

It also includes various details of construction and general combination hereinafter more particularly described and set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of one section of my improved collar; Fig. 2 is a front view of the same, showing in dotted lines the manner of connecting the two sections at the bottom portion; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the construction of the collar body, including a metal frame, a leather facing, and a pad; Fig. 4 is a detail view in section showing the upper portion of the section and the yoke connection between sections, with the crest pad attached; Fig. 5 is a detail view in section of the lower ends of the two sections, showing one form of joining the same together by means of straps.

I am aware that heretofore flat metal sections have been employed in the construction of collars with a view of presenting a wide surface contact, but besides the disadvantage of its being impossible to shape a continuous metal body at will to fit different shoulders, there is the disadvantage of such metal collars presenting an absolutely hard surface throughout contact with the shoulder. In my device I merely make the frame of metal and the intermediate space consists of a leather covering. In practice, as applied, the metal frame part meets the shoulder at points in contact with muscle parts only, and the leather covering disposed at points to meet the projection of parts in line with bone parts, which results in impingement againstthe leather yielding surface. This is one of the main features of my in vention.

I am aware that collars have been made heretofore in sections, but such sections are, so far as I am aware, omed together in use into a unitary, unyielding whole, whereas the sections of my collar are absolutely independent to move with the movement of the horses shoulders, so that they have not, as in the case of a unitary structure, one section raised while the other is in contact, but each follows the movement of the horse, thereby not only preventing frequent abrupt contacts with each movement of the shoulders, but also distributing the pressure upon both shoulders at all times.

In the drawings, 2 represents a skeleton frame structure which is preferably made of malleable iron, adapting it to be shaped at will to differences in contour of horses.

3 are bars uniting the lower ends of frame pieces 2 forming a means of connection by a strap, as 4 in such a relation as to permit a free play of the sections up and down.

5 are plates connecting frame parts 2 at the top portion of the collar, the same being provided with the elongated slots 6.

7 is a leather facing or covering extending the entire width of each collar section, as disclosed.

8 are what are commonly known as hame rings and 9 are hame or tug hooks providing plural attaching means.

10 is a yoke formed with the curved outturns 11 which terminate in laterally projecting lugs 12, and 13 is a crest pad which may be attached to yoke 10. Yoke 10 by being turned at right angles to its position shown in Fig. 4., may be inserted in either of the elongated openings 6 in plate 5, and then being turned into the position shown in Fig. 4c, the collar sections will be united in a relation to permit the play of either section in any direction to facilitate the independent free movement of the sections as the horse is in movement.

14: are pads, one of which is designed to be attached to each section, if desired, such pads, including the leather covering 7, being designed to be provided with openings to facilitate the insertion of the ends of yoke 10.

The lower ends of the pad may be secured.

preferred under some circumstances of use.

However, I do not wish to confine myself to any particular manner of connecting the lower or top ends of the sections, but wish to employ any equivalent means to that disclosed, that will leave the sections free to move independently with the movement of the horses shoulders.

I have disclosed herein, one form of embodiment of my invention, but realizing that the parts may be difierently formed and thatthe application of the principle may be differently applied, I do not desire to limit myself to the particular form and application herein disclosed, but claim all forms and manner of application that fall legitimately within the principle of my invention.

hat I claim is: V 1. In a horse collar, two sections, each comprising an open frame, a flexible body forming a facing co-extensive substantially with the complete area of eachsection, el0n= gated openings in the upper portion of said sections, bars transverse of the lower portion of said sections, and means adapted for connection with the elongated openings in the upper portion of the sections and with. the bars on the lower portion thereof, ar-- ranged to permit independent movement of each section.

2. In a horse collar, two sections, each comprising an open frame, a flexible body forming a facing co-extensive-substantially with the complete area of each section, a plurality of elongated openings in the upper portion of said sections, bars transverse of the. lower portion of saidfsections, a yoke connecting the upper portion ofsaid sections by means of said openings 111 a manner to permit free movement thereof, and a strap connecting the lower ends of the sections in a relation to permit free movement. ofthe latter. r In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELLIS MATI-IIS. lVitnesses: r 1

MARY E. COMEGIP, W. V. Tnrr'r.

Sonics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

